The St. Louis Cardinals have overachieved early in the 2026 season but are viewed as 'happy pretenders' rather than true contenders. Concerns about their bullpen and inconsistent performances raise doubts about their playoff potential.
Mentioned in this story
The Cardinals' bullpen has low strikeout rates and high pitch-to-contact rates, making it one of the weakest in Major League Baseball.
Michael McGreevy is emerging as the ace, while Dustin May has improved significantly after a rough start.
The Cardinals rank in the top 10 in runs scored, tied for 6th in home runs, and 8th in OPS among all teams.
There is speculation that President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom may trade from the team's minor league catching depth to enhance the roster.
Donovan Mitchell scores 39 points in the second half of Game 4, tying the series.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.